Apparatus for dispensing gas-charged beverages



y 1967 G. TREMOLADA 3,322,305

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GAS-CHARGED BEVERAGES Filed June 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NVE NTOR.

GOFFEEDO fez-"M01404 BY 7 (j?! N FKGLA' M Attorney May 30, 1967 G. TREMOLADA APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GAS-CHARGED BEVERAGES 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed June 21,, 1965 lNVENTOR 60/753600 TEE/ 401404 IK X W May 30, 1967 G. TREMOLADA APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GAS-CHARGED BEVERAGES Filed June 21., 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet S May 30, 1967 G. TREMOLADA 3,322,305

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING GASCHARGED BEVERAGES.

Filed June 2l, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VENTOR.

60:59.500 fP'MdA/IDA BY a 3 KM Afforn-ey United States Patent ()fllice 3,322,305

Patented May 30, 1967 ponent. More specifically, the charging of the liquid com- 3,322,305 ponent with the gas, according to the present invention,

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSYN GAS-CHARGED is carried out by mixing the liquid. component with the BEVERAGES gas at a high flow velocity with an increment or change Goflredo i gii g Marcello thereof so that the two-phase mixture can then be passed Filed June 21 igg 1 1: 465450 5 initially at room temperature through a success ion of exclaims priority, apllhcafion Italy June 26, 1964 pansion chambers and respective constrictions intermedi- 14,1 5 4; 9 19 5, 3530 5 ate these chambers whereby the two-phase mixture is re- 20 Claims. (Cl. 222-6l) peatedly expanded and compressed to cool the mixture and effect a maximum dissolution of gas in the liquid mix- My present invention relates to an apparatus for dis- 19 ti pensing gas-charged beverages and, more partic y, to According to a more specific feature of the present ina dispensing system adapted to be used in coin-Oper ted vention, significant in maintaining uniformity of the bevdevices and for over-the counter sales and controlled diserage to b dispensed d i preventing disturbances of tribution of such beverages.

The beverage-dispensing art has, in recent years, ex-

perienced a widespread growth, especially in the fields rB- described above, into a storage compartment provided lating to automatic dispensing and distribution f b v rwith pressure-relief means for maintaining substantially ages and the like from coin-operated machines and from constant the pressure to which the final mixture is exposed.

h r devices designed to dispense a continuous or n- 20 This storage compartment ensures that the volume of terrupted flow of a premixed beverage, such devices havl'hg application In fountains, bars, p and the like as Furthermore, between this compartment and the outlet of W611 as 1'11 coin-Operated apparatus In general, however, the apparatus and, in general, between the proportioning systems of this yp have been Characterized y tubes means and the outlet of the discharging means I provide dividhahy pp y y p or flavoring, Water and at an intercepting means (e.g. a valve) operable by pressure- Chafgihg gas Carbon dioxide) to a dispensing hOZZte responsive means, exposed to the gas pressure of the sysin Which the three chmpohehts are mixed togsthsl as y tem directly or via a pressure-transfer vessel, for preventare discharged into p through a spigot distfihuing the dispensing of the beverage upon a failure of the tion to the consumer. It is a common diihculty with these gas supply. Moreover, I have f d it desirable to provide devices that the gas attests the metering 0f the syrup and/ a liquid-level-detecting means at a syrup reservoir for or Water so that, for eXample, the Presence 0f large gas blocking the flow of beverage through the outlet upon the bubbles in the distribution line will reduce the amount of f il f the syrup su ply. Advantageously, the syrup beverage delivered change the Proportions of its liquid supply means includes a container provided with the level components, i.e. flavoring and water. Furthermore, earlier Sensing means (eg a fl at) and connected to the proper. devices Of this general yp were relatively complex and tioning means while a syrup reservoir is connected with Certainly not amenable to continuous service 10mg this container and is subjected to gas pressure which periods of time. In addition, such earlier devices were serves to drive the Syrup f the reservoir i the Often incapable of terminating operation when the Supply tainer. The pressure-responsive means can then include a of 0116 Or more Components Was depleted so that the piston exposed to the gas head within this container so sumer often received his beverage without flavor or with- 40 that, upon a reduction below a predetermined minimum out charging by the Without Waterof the gas pressure supplied to the syrup reservoir, the It is the Principal Object of the Present invention to intercepting means is actuated to close the outlet. I have PYOVl-de an improved System for dispensing gas'charged found that many of the inconveniences resulting from beverages and especially beverages having at least two improperly proportioned drinks can be avoided when this liquid Components, Such as Water and h flavoring container is dimensioned to retain an amount of syrup stahceequal to that required for the dispensing operation per- Ahothel' object of my invention is to Provide a system Initted by the level-detecting means so that there is no of this character which accurately proportions the several possibility that a quantity f Syrup less than h i d Components in exact Volumetric ratios: hhafihcted Y the is supplied for the last drink prior to cutoff of the outlet presence of gas bubbles and like disturbances characterizby the levehsensing means ihg earlier y In accordance with the method aspects of the present A further ohlhct of the invention is to Provide a System invention, the beverage is prepared by the successive steps for the dispensing of gas-charged beverages and the proof mixing a flavoring with a diluting liquid, usually Water; portioning thereof which is entirely fluid-operated with passing the liquid component thus prepared d a respect to the Proportihhihg and mixing devices thereby determined volume of gas in a continuous flow with suceliminating the need for complex electrical circuits, detectcessive expansion and compression to i l h gas i t; devices and the liksthe liquid component; passing the resulting mixture These Objects and Others Which Will become apparent through a chamber having a predetermined maximum hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the present pressure and venting this chamber Whenever h presinvention, in all apparatus for making gas-charged sure therewithin exceeds this level; and discharging the erages which comprises proportioning means separately beverage from the chamber. metering a predetermined volume of each f th m- Advantageously, the proportioning means includes ponents of the mixture to be dispensed; means for mixing fiuid-responsive pistons each associated with one of the the liquid ingredient, namely the flavoring or syrup and components of the final mixture and displaceable in rethe water; and charging means for thereafter passing the specti-ve cylinders whose bores and/or piston strokes are liquid mixture and the gas into intimate relationship to calibrated in accordance with the volumetric proportions charge the liquid mixture with the gas. Thus, according of the components to be delivered. The pistons are to this aspect of the invention, the individual liquid incoup-led together and are shifted, upon the liquid volgredients are separately metered and then mixed together time in the stabilizing container falling below a predeterwhile the gas component, also separately metered, is added mined level, by fluid pressure, preferably that of the to the liquid mixture only subsequently to the mixing charging gas. The feeding of gas, syrup and water to the together of the liquid constituents to form the liquid comrespective proportioning cylinders and the discharging of the latter is carried out, according to a more specific feature of this invention, via a slide valve advantageously flanking the proportioning pistons and having a valve member displaceable parallel thereto. The slide-valve assembly thus permits the compartments on opposite sides of each piston to be of interchangeable function with the respective fluid being supplied and discharged from the compartments alternately.

According to still another feature of the present inventhe proportioning cylinders for metering the syrup and water communicate with a common accumulator which communicates with the stabilizing container mentioned above while the gas-proportioning cylinder communicates with another accumulator. The accumulator is connected in parallel with a charging column having stacked expansion chambers with intervening constrictions. At one end of this charging column, I have found it particularly desirable to introduce the liquid component generally axially through the nozzle, the gas being supplied to a compartment of the charging column opening into the path of the liquid at the mouth of this nozzle.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the various components of a beverage-dispensing system, according to my invention, with parts broken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged axial cross-sectional view, partly in elevation, of a slide-valve assembly and a threecomponent proportioning means according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the proportioning pistons and slide valve in another operative position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged axial cross-sectional view through a flow-charging device according to this invention; and

FIGS. 5-7 are similar axial cross-sectional views through a syrup-dispensing device provided with intercepting means for blocking discharge of the beverage upon failure of the syrup and/ or gas supply.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION The apparatus consists essentially of four units, i.e. a first unit 100 comprising the proportioning and mixing means, .a second unit 200 comprising the means for charging the liquid mixture with gas, a third unit 300 for controlling and/or stabilizing the gas volume contained in the liquid mixture, and a fourth unit 400 for controlling the operation of the apparatus when the gas pressure and/or the supply of syrup fall below the required minimum.

The proportioning unit 100 (FIG. 1) is supplied with the charging gas by the replaceable or refillable supply cylinder S, while water is available from the water line 33". The gas is fed into an accumulator 51, whereas a further acclumulator 52 initially mixes the water with syrup fed by line 32 to the proportioning unit 100. The liquid mixture and gas are supplied by lines 54 and 55, respectively, to the charging unit 200. The latter is connected by a line 61 t the stabilizing unit 300 which, in turn, is connected via line 65 with the control unit 400. The beverage is dispensed at 65. The system can be incorporated in a coin-operated vending machine provided with a cup dispenser, refrigerating device or the like in the conventional manner.

PROPQRTIONING UNIT Referring now more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 4, it will be seen that the proportioning and mixing unit 100 comprises a first proportioning or driving cylinder 1, and two proportioning cylinders 2 and 3, within which are slidably disposed the pistons 1, 2' and 3 interconnected by a rod 4 connected by a lost-motion linkage with a slide valve 5 on the upper end thereof. The slide valve 5 is connected, through pipe 6, to the source S of a suitable gas such as CO and is adapted to actuate, through ducts 7 and 8, the piston 9 of the slide-valve assembly 10.

As particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the slide-valve assembly 10 substantially comprises a tubular element 11 within which are slidably disposed the pistons 11', 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 1'9 and 11" formed on a common rod 20 secured to the piston 9. The pistons are spaced apart to define small and generally identical chambers 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 for the passage of the gas and the other ingredients necessary for the preparation of the beverage. Inlet pipes 31 (branched from pipe 6), 32 and 33 and outlet pipes 34, 35 and 35, for the feeding and discharge respectively of the gas, syrup and water, communicate with the tubular element 11. Further ducts 36, 3% and 40 connect said tubular element 11 to the upper chambers respectively of cylinders 1, 2 and 3 and other ducts 37, 39 and 41 connect the tubular valve body to the lower chambers of said cylinder.

Rod 20 is provided with a first internal conduit C connecting, through openings 42 and 43, the chambers 21 and 23, with a second internal conduit C connecting, through openings 44 and 45, the chambers 24- and 26, and with a third internal conduit C connecting, through openings 46 and 47, the chambers 27 and 29. The outlet pipe 34 for the gas communicates with the accumulator 51 while the outlet pipes 35 and 35' for the syrup and water are connected to the common container 52.

CHARGING UNIT The means 200 for gas-charging the liquid mixture (see particularly FIG. 4) comprises a tubular housing 53 in the lower part of which is mounted a nozzle 56 connected to the pipe 54 supplied with liquid from the container 52. To the chamber 56' surrounding the nozzle 56 is connected a pipe 55 originating at the gas accumulator 51. The upper part of the tubular housing 53 is provided with a chamber 57 whose inside walls 58 are inclined to form a plurality of small expansion chambers 58 interconnected .by narrow constricted passages 59; the lower narrow passage 59' of the lowermost chamber 58 is disposed along the axis of the nozzle 56 and is very close to the latter.

GAS-VOLUME STABILIZER The device 300 for controlling the gas volume (see FIG. 1) contained in the mixture comprises a reservoir 60, connected to the charging means 53 by a pipe 61, which contains a float 62 adapted to close, in an elevated position, a discharge valve 63 connected to the atmosphere through a suitably calibrated valve 64.

CONTROL UNIT The device 400 for controlling the operation of the apparatus when there is a failure in the gas and/or syrup supply is shown in particular in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, 7.

As is clear from FIG. 1, from the pipe 6 connecting the slide valve 5 to the source S of the gas is branched a pipe 101 for feeding the gas under pressure to a syrupsupply tank or reservoir 102. To the supply tank 102 is connected a pipe 103 for feeding syrup under pressure to the syrup accumulator or container 104 connected, via pipe 105, to an intercepting valve 106 in the delivery line 65, 65 and, via pipe 32, to the slide-valve assembly 10 for feeding, through ducts 38 or 39, the syrup to the proportioning cylinder 2.

The syrup accumulator 104 is provided (FIGS. 5-7) with a float 107 having integral therewith a stem 108, on the upper part of which a disk valve 109 is mounted for blocking an outlet port 110 upon elevation of float 107. On the upper part of accumulator 104 a bore 110' is provided for directly connecting this upper part to a cylinder 111 within which a spring 113 is slidably disposed; a piston 112 having an integral stem 114 extends through said bore 110 into the accumulator 104. The length of stem 114 is so dimensioned as to push the float 6 107 downwardly, upon the expansion of spring 113, in Cylinder 3.Water is supplied from the water line 33' order to open the outlet port 110. through pipe 33, valve chamber 29 and duct 41; water The outlet port 110 is connected to a chamber 115; the (previously supplied to the upper chamber of this cylinlatte-r communicates with the atmosphere via a ball valve der) is discharged through duct 40, chamber 28 and pipe 116 operated by a spring 116' and a pushbutton 117. 5 35' into the container 52 where it is mixed with the syrup Within the intercepting valve 106 of the delivery line, therein fed through pipe 35. 65, 65, a piston 118 is slidably disposed and, in the When the pistons 1', 2 and 3' reach the upper ends of lowered position (FIG. 5), connects the two portions 65, their collective stroke (solid lines in FIG. 2), the slide 65' of the outlet; when in the raised position (FIGS 6 valve 5 connects the gas-feeding conduit 6 to the conduit and 7), the valve piston 118 blocks the pipe 65. A suitable 10 7; the gas thereby actuates the piston 9 to displace it from spring'or weight 119 (FIGS. 1 and 5) is provided for the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position illustrated in yieldably retaining the piston 118 in the lowered posi- FIG. 3. Such displacement of piston 9 causes a corretion. A passage 105, connecting said valve 106 to the sponding downward displacement of the valve member chamber 115, communicates with a small chamber 120 20 and consequently of the several pistons of the slideprovided in the lower part of valve 106. valve assembly 10. In FIG. 3 the pistons 1', 2', 3"are shown in broken lines when in an intermediate position OPERATION of their downward stroke and in full lines when in a posi- Prepamflve mode tion corresponding to the lower end of stroke.

To allow the initial f di f the accumulator 194 In the subsequent cycle there is a directional reversal with syrup under pressure fed, through pipe 103, f of the inlet and outlet pipes of the three cylinders. the supply tank 102, the pushbutton 117 (FIGS. 1, 5, 6 Cylmder 18 supphed from 11116 through P 1 and 7) is actuated to open, against the counter-action 31, Chamber 22 t 35? gas l into of spring 116, the ball valve 116 and to connect, through Chamber of the Cyhnder the P cycle) 15 outlet port 110 and chamber 115, the inside of accumu- Charged through chamber 23, Internal cohdult lator 104 to the atmosphere. The pressure 'bulit up with- C1, Chamber 21 and Ptp 34 t the accumulatorin accumulator 104 for the displacement of the syrup Cylinde" Y P suppheq thr'gugh P P Cham- Ct thr gh opening 110', against the lower surface f her 25 and duct 38; syrup (previously fed 1nto the lower the piston 112 and displaces the latter within cylinder Chamber of h Cylinder) discharged through d11 Ct 111 thereby compressing the Spring 113 (FIG 5 The chamber 26, internal conduit C chamber 24 and pipe 35 float 107 rises by virtue of, the elevation of the level of to contalner the syrup within the accumulator 104 and blocks, via Cyli'1der3--Wate1'i$ suppliefll through P p Chamdisk valve 109, the outlet port 110. The spring 113, of her 23 and duct 41); water (fed mtothelower part of the course, is dimensioned to yield when the pressure of the cylinder during the Ethel/10118 y dlscharged through system is higher than a predetermined value and to expand duct 41, Chamber 29,'1I1terha1 cohdu'lt Chamber 27 and when said pressure is lower than said value. pipe 35' to the container 52, wherein it is mixed with the The actuating of the pushbutton 117, besides allowing Syrup P P the initial filling if the accumulator 104 ith Syrup, The continuous delivery of beverage from reservoir 60 also connects the chamber 120 to the atmosphere, through Will Cause a COhStaht repetition of the above y passage 105 nd h b 115, th ll i h i The water-syrup mixture collected in the container 52 charge of any gas possibly contained in chamber 120 is fed into the beverage-Charging device 53 through P p and consequent lowering, by the action of a spring 119 54 and nozzle 56 1 and At the mouth of the or its own weight, of piston 118 to connect the two nozzle 56,4116 y pt r mixture s m x in th chemportions of the delivery pipe 65, 65' (FIGS 1 d 5), her 56' with the gas arrlving at pipe 55 and the resulting The apparatus is now ready fo operation, blend is conveyed at a high velocity into the tubular turbulent'flow chamber 57. Owing to the presence of the Operative mode successive chambers 58 and narrow passages 59' and 59 Assume the slide-valve assembly 10 to be in the raised (i.e. constrictions between the passages), the mixture position shown in FIG. 2, the pistons 1', 2', 3 to be in undergoes a number of alternate expansions and compresthe intermediate position shown in broken lines in FIG. 2, sions, this causing a sensible cooling of the mixture and and the reservoir 60 (FIG. 1) to be filled with a prea maximum absorption of gas into the liquid component viously mixed beverage. In this condition, the pressure of the mixture. The gas-charged mixture is then fed, Within reservoir 69, Where the valve 63 has been closed through pipe 61, to reservoir and delivered through by the float 62, balances the feeding-gas pressure which, pipe 65 to the consumer. through pipe 31, chamber 23 and pipe 37, acts on the If the pressure of the reservoir 60 should attain, durlower part of the piston 1'; the system, being balanced, 5 ing the delivery of the beverage, values higher than the ill remain stationary d there ill b no upward di predetermined relief pressure of the valve 64, the latter placement f piston 1' will open to discharge into the atmosphere the excess gas,

AS Soon as a quantity of beverage is discharged, through thus restoring the optimum pressure in the reservoir.

Upon an interruption of the delivery, the apparatus will continue to operate and to supply the beverage to the reservoir 60 until the float 62 closes the valve 63, allowing the pressure within the reservoir 61) to balance the pressure of the feeding gas and consequently to interrupt pipe 65, 65, from reservoir 60, the pressure in this reservoir drops and the pressure diflerential thus produced allows the gas to push upwardly the piston 1. Accordingly, the rod 4 will urge upwardly also the pistons 2 and 3'.

. the o oration of the s stem.

c l d ].Gas is supplied from tank S and line 6 65 Iffjluring the operzition, there is a failure in the feed through pipe 31, chamber 23 and duct 37 to this cylinder; ing of the syrup (FIG. 7), there will be a lowering of the gas dlscharge (of the gas Prevlously rammed the float 107, thereby opening outlet port 110 and establish- PP Chamber of the Cylinder 1'5 efiected through duct ing communication between the interior of syrup accumu. chamber 22 and P p 34, the gas being fed to the lator 104 and chamber 120. Because of pressure of the accumulator 51. gas present in accumulator 104, the piston 118 lifts Cylinder 2.Syrup is supplied from reservoir 194 against the action of the spring 119, the latter being calithrough pipe 32, valve chamber 26 and duct 39; syrup brated to a predetermined minimum value of the pres- (previously supplied to the upper chamber of the cylinsure, and consequently blocks the pipe 65. der) is discharged through duct 38, chamber 25 and pipe If, on the contrary, the pressure in accumulator 104 35 into the container 52. I (FIG. 6) drops below a predetermined value, the gas spring 113 pushes down the piston 112, which in turn bears with its stem 114 against the float 107 to lower the latter, thus connecting, through outlet port 110, the accumualtor 104 to the chamber 120. By virtue of the residual pressure of the gas contained in accumulator 104, there is an upward displacement of piston 118 against the action of spring 119.

The blocking of pipe 65, therefore, will interrupt the delivery of the beverage but the apparatus will continue to operate for a short time until the reservoir 60 is filled up. The filling of reservoir 60, by the closing of the valve 63, will balance the pressures. In order to avoid, during this short period of time, the feeding of improperly proportioned beverage to the reservoir 60, the syrup accumulator 104 is dimensioned to allow, as soon as the supply tank 102 is empty, the supply of a quantity of syrup sufficient to complete the cycle.

Although a certain particular embodiment of the invention is herein disclosed for purposes of explanation, \further modifications thereof, after study of this specification, will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of a first liquid ingredient of said beverage, a source of a second liquid ingredient of said beverage, and a source of a charging gas; proportioning means connected with said sources for separately metering predetermined quantities of said charging gas and each of said liquid ingredients; mixing means connected with said proportioning means for combining said liquid ingredents to form a liquid component; charging means for passing said liquid component and the metered predetermined quantity of gas into intimate mixing relationship :at an elevated velocity to dissolve said gas in said liquid component; discharging means connected with said charging means for delivering the gas-charged mixture; and stabilizing means connected between said mixing means and said discharging means for rendering substantially uniform the gas content of the gas-charged mixture supplied by said mixing means to said discharging means, said stabilizing means including a temporary-storage container provided with a first valve responsive to the level of the mixture within said container and a second valve responsive to gas pressure within said container, said first and second valves venting said container to the atmosphere upon the liquid level falling below a predetermined value and the gas pressure exceeding said predetermined level, said proportioning means being actuatable upon the venting of said container to the atmosphere with a decrease in the liquid level therein below said predetermined value.

2. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of a first liquid ingredient of said beverage, a source of a second liquid ingredient of said beverage, and a source of a charging gas; proportioning means connected with said sources for separately metering predetermined quantities of said charging gas and each of said liquid ingredients; mixing means connected with said proportioning means for combining said liquid ingredients to form a liquid component; charging means for passing said liquid component and the metered predetermined quantity of gas into intimate mixing relationship at an elevated velocity to dissolve said gas in said liquid component; and discharging means connected with said charging means for delivering the gas-charged mixture; said proportioning means including a pair of proportioning cylinders respectively connected with said sources of said first and second liquid ingredients, double-acting piston means reciproca ble in said cylinder for discharging predetermined quantities of said liquid ingredients upon each forward stroke and reverse stroke of said piston means, and a gas-driven piston connected with said source of charging gas and operatively connected with said double-acting piston means for displacing same to proportion said liquid ingredients.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said proportioning means further comprises distributing-valve means connected with said cylinders and said sources for alternately feeding said liquid ingredients to opposite sides of the respective double-acting piston means, and fluid-responsive means controlled by said piston for operating said distributing-valve means.

4. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of a first liquid ingredient of said beverage, a source of a second liquid ingredient of said beverage, and a source of a charging gas; proportioning means connected with said sources for separately metering predetermined quantities of said charging gas and each of said liquid ingredients; mixing means connected with said proportioning means for combining said liquid ingredients to form a liquid component; charging means for passing said liquid component and the metered predetermined quantity of gas into intimate mixing relationship at an elevated velocity to dissolve said gas in said liquid component; discharging means connected with said charging mean for delivering the gas-charged mixture; said mixing means including a liquid accumulator receiving said predetermined quantities of both said liquid ingredients; further comprising a gas accumulator connected with said proportioning means for receiving said predetermined quantity of charging gas, both said accumulators being connected in parallel with said charging means.

5. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of charging gas; a syrup reservoir, a syrup-dispensing chamber connected with said reservoir, and conduit means connected with'said source of charging gas and said reservoir for supplying said gas under pressure to the latter to drive syrup from said reservoir into said chamber; mixing means connected to said source, said chamber and a water supply for producing said beverage, said mixing means being provided with discharging means for said beverage; and control means for discontinuing the dispensing of fluid from said discharging means upon insufliciency of supply of an ingredient of said beverage, said control means comprising liquid-level-detecting means in said chamber responsive to the syrup level therein for indicating failure of the syrup supply, fluid-pressure-responsive means connected with said chamber for detecting a fall of gas pressure below a predetermined level, and intercepting-valve means in said discharging means operable by said liquid-level-detecting means and said fluid-pressure-responsive means.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said chamber is provided with manually operable valve means for venting it to the atmosphere to permit the feeding of syrup into said chamber from said reservoir, said proportioning means including fluid-responsive driving means connected with said chamber and actuatable upon operation of the manually operable valve means to initiate metering of additional quantities of said gas and-said liquid ingredients.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said container is dimensioned to contain a quantity of syrup suflicient prior to operation of said liquid-level-detecting means to permit the delivery of completely flavored beverage prior to termination of delivery even upon emptying of said reservoir.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said valve means comprises a fluid-pressure-responsive valve member biased into a position permitting operation of said discharging means but shiftable upon ope-artion of said liquid-level-detecting means into a delivery-blocking position.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said valve means includes a cylinder, said valve member forming a piston in said cylinder, said chamber being provided with a passage communicating with said cylinder for applying gas pressure to said valve member, said liquid-leveldetecting means including float means locking said passage upon said chamber containing a supply of syrup suflicient to produce the beverage.

10. An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said fluid-pressure-responsive means includes a plunger engagewith said float means for unblocking said passage upon a fall in the pressure within said chamber.

11. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said plurality of expansion chambers spaced apart therealong, and means forming constricted passages between said chambers, said liquid component and gas being introduced at one end of said succession of chambers and being passed therethrough with alternate expansion and compression to dissolve said gas in said liquid component while cooling the latter.

ponent therethrough with a change in flow velocity of said liquid component, and means for admixing said gas with the stream of said liquid component injected from said nozzle substantially at the mouth thereof.

13. An apparatus for dispensing a predetermined quantity of gas into intimate mixing relationship at an elevated velocity to dissolve said gas in said liquid component; discharging means connected with said charging means for delivering the gas-charged mixture; said proportioning means including a housing, a plurality of proportioning piston-and-cylinder arrangements with interconnected pistons reciprocable in said housing for metering said quantities, and slide-valve means reciprocable in said housing for directing flow of gas and said liquid ingredients to the respective piston-and-cylinder arrangements.

14. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of gas under pressure, a supply for liquid to be charged with said gas, mixing means connected with said source and said supply, said mixing means being provided with conduit means for the discharge of the resulting mixture, blocking means for interrupting the discharge of mixture through said conduit means, and control means for second sensing device responsive to the pressure of said gas in said chamber, and operating means for said blocking means actuata'ble by either of said devices upon a respective dropping of said level or said pressure below a predetermined value.

15. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said first sensing device comprises a float, said second sensing device comprising a downwardly biased member bearing upon said float in a normal position of the latter, said operating means being coupled with said float for displace ment thereby upon a lowering of said float from said normal position.

16. An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein said blocking means comprises a pneumatic valve normally biased into an unblocking position, said operating means normally obstructing a passage from said chamber to said valve but being withdrawable from said passage by the descending float for admitting residual gas pressure from said chamber to said valve, thereby moving the latter into a blocking position, said blocking means being provided with venting means for restoring said valve to normal.

17. An apparatus as defined in claim 14 wherein said supply includes a reservoir for said liquid having an overflow connection to said chamber and a pipe for delivering gas from said source to the top of said reservoir whereby the liquid therein is driven by gas pressure through said overflow connection into said chamber.

18. An apparatus for dispensing a gas-charged beverage, comprising a source of a liquid component of said beverage; a source of charging gas; proportioning means connected with said sources for separately metering predetermined quantities of said charging gas and said liquid component; mixing means connected with said proportioning means for introducing said gas into said liquid component; and discharging means connected with said under pressure of the evolving gas, differentially connected to said source of charging gas and to said container for operation upon the pressure of said charging gas exceeding the fluid pressure of said container.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said delivery means comprises a reciprocable piston assembly with a first cylinder for the delivery of said gas and a second cylinder for the delivery of the liquid component, said assembly being provided with valve means for periodically reversing the displacement thereof due to the pressure differential between said charging gas and said container.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said container is provided with pressure-relief means for discharging gas from said container upon the pressure therein exceeding a predetermined level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

18. AN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A GAS-CHARGED BEVERAGE, COMPRISING A SOURCE OF A LIQUID COMPONENT OF SAID BEVERAGE; A SOURCE OF CHARGING GAS; PROPORTIONING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID SOURCES FOR SEPARATELY METERING PREDETERMINED QUANTITIES OF SAID CHARGING GAS AND SAID LIQUID COMPONENT; MIXING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID PROPORTIONING MEANS FOR INTRODUCING SAID GAS INTO SAID LIQUID COMPONENT; AND DISCHARGING MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID MIXING MEANS FOR DISPENSING THE RESULTING MIXTURE; SAID PROPORTIONING MEANS INCLUDING A RECEPTACLE IN SAID DISCHARGING MEANS FOR STORING A QUANTITY OF SAID MIXTURE UNDER PRESSURE OF THE EVOLVING GAS, AND DELIVERY MEANS 